Get POP’N for POPCORN

As the holiday season kicks into gear, and we fast approach the time of year where most of us tend to overindulge, some healthy snack alternatives can make all the difference!

Popcorn kernels are a wholegrain, and on their own are quite healthy. It is all the stuff we add to them, or how we cook them, that makes the difference between a guilt free pleasure, or an inflammatory, toxic overload. Microwave popcorn, store bought pre-popped popcorn, and cinema popcorn, are laden with chemicals that are inflammatory in our body. Making your own at home on the stove top, is quick and easy, and can be a fun experience for the family as you listen to all those kernels popping away!

Let’s admit it, on it’s own, popcorn is rather bland and dry. It is that very dryness that makes it perfect to soak up any moisture you add though! The trick is to choose healthy options, and not overdo it.

Butter: poor old butter often gets bashed around as being unhealthy, and it is true that you don’t want to overdo how much you consume in your diet, however it is a great source of fat-soluble vitamins! Make sure you pick a good quality, grass-fed organic butter, and if you can get it direct from the farmer this is even better! Support your local =)

Oil: there are plenty of healthy oils that can be a great way to include healthy fats and antioxidants in your diet. Olive oil, Almond Oil, Hemp Oil, Avocado Oil, Macadamia Oil, Sesame Oil, there are many more, and as you are adding this to already popped popcorn, there is no heat from cooking involved, so you don’t need to be concerned with smoke points. Make sure you choose fresh, high quality oils, and avoid nasty generic vegetable oils, canola oil, or margarine. Yuck!

Now when it comes to seasoning options, the sky is the limit! Choose any kind of quality salt, your favourite herbal flavours, delicious spices, or healthier sweet options.

Sweets: we have available REAL stevia in powder form (find it here). This means it is green and has NOTHING added to it. Stevia is super sweet, so you only need the tiniest amount. If you are not a fan of the unique sweet flavour of stevia, Honey Powder is dehydrated honey, and can be swapped 1:1 for sugar, and can be used in any cooking where you would normally use castor sugar. Lucuma powder is a great low sugar option, with only 30% naturally occurring sugar, and a unique slightly butterscotch/caramel flavour.

Recipe Suggestions

Salted Honey Caramel Popcorn
1 large bowl of freshly popped popcorn
1 Tbsp of butter or your favourite oil
2 Tbsp Lucuma Powder (find it here)
2 tsp Honey Powder (find it here)
1 tsp fine Himalayan Salt (or your favourite salt choice) (find it here)

Directions: Poor your butter or oil over the popcorn and mix it around to coat it evenly.
Combine your powders and salt, then sprinkle or shake this over your popcorn. Mix or shake this up to make sure you coat every bit! Then simply enjoy =)

Or get the premixed Salted Honey Caramel Magic Popcorn Dust here.

Spicy Salted Cajun Popcorn
1 large bowl of freshly popped popcorn
1 Tbsp of butter or your favourite oil
1 Tbsp of My Herb Clinic’s Crazy Cajun spice mix (find it here)
1 tsp fine Himalayan Salt (or your favourite salt choice)

Directions: Poor your butter or oil over the popcorn and mix it around to coat it evenly.
Combine your Crazy Cajun powder and salt, then sprinkle or shake this over your popcorn. Mix or shake this up to make sure you coat every bit! Then simply enjoy =)

Get the premixed Spicy Cajun Magic Popcorn Dust here

Rock’n Rosemary Popcorn

1 large bowl of freshly popped popcorn
1 Tbsp of Olive Oil (the best flavour for this recipe)
1 Tbsp of dried Rosemary (or more if you want!) (find it here)
1/3 cup of pine nuts
1 tsp fine Himalayan Salt (or your favourite salt choice)

Directions: Preheat your oven to a low heat at 140 to 150 degrees Celsius. Poor your oil over the popcorn and mix it around to coat it evenly.
Shake your Rosemary, pine nuts, and salt over your popcorn. Mix or shake this up to make sure you coat every bit!
Spread this mix out evenly on a baking sheet (or 2 if needed), and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm and simply enjoy =)

If you are really brave, try our Hotter than Hell culinary salt fusions (find it here), but be warned, these chilli blends mean business! Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a zesty dimension to any chilli popcorn! 

Check out our Gourmet Culinary Salts and Chilli mixes here .

If you want to share your favourite popcorn seasoning recipes with us, please send them through! We love to hear from our valued customers and love trying out new flavours.

Take care everyone, and we hope you have a happy, healthy, holiday season!

Love from the My Herb Clinic Team